What does merely mean?

Definitions for merely
mere·ly

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word merely.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. merely, simply, just, only, butadverb

    and nothing more

    "I was merely asking"; "it is simply a matter of time"; "just a scratch"; "he was only a child"; "hopes that last but a moment"

Wiktionary

  1. merelyadverb

    Wholly, entirely.

  2. merelyadverb

    Without any other reason etc.; only, just, and nothing more.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Merelyadverb

    Simply; only; thus and no other way; for this and for no other end or purpose.

    Etymology: from mere.

    Which thing we ourselves would grant, if the use thereof had been merely and only mystical. Richard Hooker, b. v.

    These external manners of laments
    Are merely shadows to the unseen grief,
    That swells with silence in the tortur’d soul. William Shakespeare.

    It is below reasonable creatures to be conversant in such diversions as are merely innocent, and have nothing else to recommend them. Joseph Addison, Spect. №. 93.

    Above a thousand bought his almanack merely to find what he said against me. Jonathan Swift.

    Prize not your life for other ends
    Than merely to oblige your friends. Jonathan Swift.

ChatGPT

  1. merely

    Merely can be generally defined as something that is only or just its basic form or level, with little significance or importance attached to it. It emphasizes simplicity, insignificance, or lack of complexity.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Merelyadverb

    purely; unmixedly; absolutely

  2. Merelyadverb

    not otherwise than; simply; barely; only

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'merely' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1332

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'merely' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3103

  3. Adverbs Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'merely' in Adverbs Frequency: #125

How to pronounce merely?

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of merely in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of merely in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of merely in a Sentence

  1. Joel Patrick Warneke:

    At points of clarity, I realize that my life on earth is meaningless, and that I am merely a pawn in a bigger game. A game I cannot possible understand or have control of. Thankfully, before depression sets in, I drift back into my cloudy, bewildered daily routine.

  2. Margaret Atwood:

    Another belief of mine that everyone else my age is an adult, whereas I am merely in disguise.

  3. Phillips Brooks:

    A prayer in its simplest definition is merely a wish turned Godward.

  4. Tom Cotton:

    North Korea has a long history of demanding concessions merely to negotiate, kim Jong Un is a murderous despot and habitual liar.

  5. Sam Liccardo:

    I want to thank all those who work for justice today, to ensure this is not merely a reckoning of things past but a change in our orientation to each other and this community in years to come.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

merely#1#5564#10000

Translations for merely

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

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"merely." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/merely>.

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    a decorative musical accompaniment (often improvised) added above a basic melody
    A knead
    B abrade
    C descant
    D huff

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